Overview
Backblaze is a US-based cloud storage and backup provider serving individual and business users with low-cost, reliable data protection. Its core products include B2 Cloud Storage (low-cost object storage for developers and businesses) and Computer Backup (unlimited backup for personal computers). Backblaze is known for transparent pricing and low cost, with B2 storage at $6/TB/month—far below mainstream object storage like AWS S3—while offering an S3-compatible API for easy migration and integration.
Backblaze established a bandwidth alliance with Cloudflare, making B2 egress traffic free through the Cloudflare CDN and significantly reducing content distribution costs. The company also regularly publishes hard drive failure reports, providing public, real-world reliability statistics from its operations.
Key Strengths
- Extremely Low Storage Cost: B2 cloud storage at $6/TB/month, roughly 1/5 the cost of AWS S3, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees—a top choice for low-cost object storage.
- Computer Backup Unlimited Backup: Personal computer backup supporting unlimited data with automatic continuous backup of documents, photos, and videos, with encrypted storage and transfer.
- Cloudflare Bandwidth Alliance: Free egress for B2 data distributed via the Cloudflare CDN, significantly reducing content distribution costs for static assets and media.
- S3-Compatible API: B2 offers an S3-compatible interface, enabling low-cost migration for existing S3-based applications with a mature toolchain.
- Hard Drive Failure Reports: Regularly publishes failure-rate reports based on real operational data, providing public reliability references for storage selection.
Product Ecosystem
B2 Cloud Storage
Low-cost object storage at $6/TB/month with S3-compatible API, versioning, lifecycle management, and server-side encryption. Suitable for backup, archiving, static asset hosting, and media storage.
Computer Backup
Unlimited backup for personal computers with automatic continuous backup, Windows/macOS support, encrypted storage, and fast recovery.
Cloudflare Integration
B2 partners with Cloudflare CDN via the bandwidth alliance for free egress, ideal for static asset distribution and global content delivery combined with CDN acceleration.
Limitations
- Not a General Cloud Platform: Backblaze focuses on storage and backup; it does not provide compute instances, databases, or other general cloud services, requiring other platforms for a complete architecture.
- Higher China Access Latency: No local nodes in mainland China; domestic users face higher latency accessing B2 data, requiring acceleration for China-facing businesses.
- Smaller API Ecosystem: Compared to AWS S3's rich ecosystem and tooling, B2's third-party integrations and advanced features are more limited.
Use Cases
- Low-Cost Object Storage (★★★★★): Backup, archiving, and static asset hosting at 1/5 the cost of S3 with reliable object storage.
- Personal Computer Backup (★★★★★): Unlimited backup for continuous data protection for individuals and families.
- Static Assets & Media Distribution (★★★★): Cloudflare CDN bandwidth alliance with free egress, ideal for images, video, and static content distribution.
- S3 Migration Scenarios (★★★★): S3-compatible API supports low-cost migration for budget-sensitive data storage needs.
- China-Focused Users (★★): No local nodes with higher domestic latency; evaluate local storage options.
Pricing
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B2 Cloud Storage | $6/TB/month | Object storage, S3-compatible |
| B2 Download Traffic | $0.01/GB | First 3x stored volume free |
| Computer Backup | $9/month ($99/year) | Unlimited backup, single computer |
| Cloudflare Bandwidth Alliance | Free | Free CDN egress |
B2 pricing is transparent with no hidden fees. Computer Backup is subscribed monthly or annually. See the official site for current prices.
FAQ
- How does B2 differ from AWS S3? B2 is priced at roughly 1/5 of S3 with an S3-compatible API, ideal for budget-sensitive low-cost storage; S3 has a richer ecosystem and toolchain—see object storage & CDN migration reference.
- Is it suitable for Chinese users? No local nodes in mainland China with higher domestic latency. China-facing businesses should combine local object storage or CDN acceleration—see the cross-border website guide.
- Is B2 data secure? Server-side and transfer encryption, versioning, and lifecycle management, combined with the website security checklist, build a reliable data protection solution.
- What content can I store? Any file type, suitable for backup, archiving, media, and static assets—see the storage selection guide.